PRESSURE: Brendan Rodgers is feeling the heat after another dismal home display

INJURIES

Sturridge's hip injury meant Rodgers was denied his best striker for the start of the season and it will take a while for the England international to get back up to speed.

A hamstring strain to Christian Benteke, the man brought in to ease the burden on Sturridge, will prevent Rodgers pairing the two together for another couple of weeks.

An operation on a broken foot, after an unassociated heel problem, has sidelined captain Jordan Henderson and denied the team some much-needed energy in midfield.

Midfielder Joe Allen missed the first seven weeks of the season and Adam Lallana was sidelined for a month.

TACTICS

Rodgers began the campaign setting up 4-3-3 but played youngster Joe Gomez out of position at left-back and has not given £29m summer signing Roberto Firmino a run in his preferred position off the striker.

Has switched to 3-4-1-2 - as he did last December - and dropped Gomez for the more experienced Mamadou Sakho and moved Emre Can into the back three. Still doesn't appear to know his best team or formation.

SIGNINGS

Benteke, at £32.5m, has yet to really show what he can do, James Milner has disappointed as the senior professional in midfield, Firmino is still trying to adapt to a new country and style and 20-year-old striker Divock Origi looks out of his depth.

Gomez has done as well as can be expected playing in an unfamiliar position. Right-back Nathaniel Clyne and forward Danny Ings are the two summer arrivals to shine so far.

Of those that remain from last year's transfer window Lallana, Can and Lovren have still not made their mark on the team while Alberto Moreno's form is sporadic.